Archive for December 2012
2012 in Review: Finance & Insurance
Employee stock ownership legislation passed
The Iowa Legislature enacted incentives to encourage Iowa companies to form more employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). The legislation put into place one of four economic development goals outlined by …
Read More2012 in Review: Health & Wellness
Health-care reform takes center stage
The future of federal health-care reform was uncertain for much of 2012, as Americans awaited a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court and the outcome of the November presidential election. …
Read More2012 in Review: HR & Education
Leath: Let’s do business
New Iowa State University President Steven Leath didn’t waste much time before getting involved with the Greater Des Moines business community.
Leath sat down with area business leaders in a dinner …
Read More2012 in Review: Law & Government
One woman’s crusade
Lisa Kragnes and attorney Brad Schroeder called it nine years ago when they said the city of Des Moines’ franchise fee was an illegal tax. Iowa District Court judges agreed, Iowa Supreme …
Read More2012 in Review: Manufacturing & Logistics
New foreign trade zone approved for Central Iowa
The Greater Des Moines Partnership in September received approval for a new type of foreign trade zone (FTZ) that development officials said will provide a more flexible …
Read More2012 in Review: Real Estate & Development
An up year for downtown
Cranes and closed sidewalks became a common feature of the central business district in Des Moines. Over in the Western Gateway, an old toilet factory got a handsome remodeling from …
Read More2012 in Review: Retail & Business
Iowa unemployment rate drops below 5 percent
Iowa’s unemployment rate inched down to 4.9 percent in November from 5.1 percent in October, according to Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) figures.
The national unemployment rate for November …
Read More2012 in Review: Sales & Marketing
Growing business interest in Pinterest
Pinterest, a photo-sharing social media website co-founded by West Des Moines native Ben Silbermann, was one of the biggest success stories in social media this year.
The Business Record asked …
Read More2012 in Review: Tech & Innovation
Iowa’s ‘one shot’ to expand tech work force
Iowa began positioning itself to cultivate the next generation of the work force in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) with the creation of Gov. Terry Branstad’s …
Read MoreBERKO: Microchip Tech good stock, at the right price
.floatimg-left-hort { float:left; } .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 12px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { …
Read More